What Are Reasonable Efforts

Statute: Tit. 10, § 7003-5.5

As determined by the court

When Reasonable Efforts Are Required

Statute: Tit. 10, § 7003-5.5

To provide for the safe return of the child to the child's home

If reasonable efforts to reunite the family are
not feasible, to secure an alternate permanent
placement for the child

When Reasonable Efforts Are NOT Required

Statute: Tit. 10, § 7003-4.6

The parent has inflicted chronic abuse, chronic neglect, or torture on the child or another child in the household

The child or a sibling has previously been
removed, returned home, and removed again due to
sexual abuse or severe physical abuse

The child is an abandoned infant

The parent has been convicted of murder,
voluntary manslaughter of another child, or the
attempt to commit such crime

The child has been adjudicated deprived due to a
single incident of sexual abuse, severe abuse, or
a felonious assault resulting in serious bodily
injury

The child was conceived as a result of rape

The parents have deserted the child for at least
6 months

The parents have abandoned the child

A child has been in out of home care for more
than 1 year within a 3-year period

The parent has failed to correct the conditions
that led to the initial court intervention

Parental rights to a sibling have been terminated
involuntarily and there has been no reasonable
effort on the part of the parent to correct
conditions

The parent is subject to registration as a sex
offender

The parent has a history of extensive, abusive,
and chronic use of drugs or alcohol and has
resisted treatment for a period of 3 years